Your trip sounds wonderful!
Near Venice, I cannot recommend highly enough the Hotel Villa Margherita
in Mira. It is a very short and easy drive from Mira to Venice. There
is also bus service from just outside the hotel. The hotel is very reasonably
priced and has an excellent restaurant which is across the street. Also,
the breakfast spread will not disappoint.
If you are interested, the contact information is Villa Margherita
I-30030 - Mira -,Via Nazionale, 416/417,Tel. 041/4265800, Fax 041/4265838.
Also, when communicating with hotels to make reservations in advance I
always use the fax. That way you have written confirmation (which may
come in handy) and often the hotels will fax you helpful directions.
Also, when I was in Italy, I found some knowledge of Spanish helpful,
but there are significant differences. Had no problem with English in
most places.